Improvement in key-hole guards



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

ALFRED HUFFNAGLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

iMPRov'EMENT IN KEY-HOLE GUARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 80,959, dated August 11, 1868. A

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED HUFFNAGLE, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Door-Lock; and do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this speciiication, in which- Figure lis a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with the back plate of the lock removed. Fig. 3 is a top view. `Fig. 4 is a front view of the escutcheons. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the same.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The nature of my invention consists in providing va simple attachment for door-locks that shall prevent burglars or others from sliding the bolt from the outside while the keyis in place upon the inside of the lock, either by turning the key with nippers or by the use of false or other keys, and also for holding the key in the lock, so that it shall not be removed by the jarring of the door or from other accidental causes.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the lock, of ordinary construction 5 and B, the key.

C is a stud, passing through the upper part of the lock, to each end of which is attached an escutcheon, E and F, for covering the key-hole, which is fastened to the stud C in such a manner that when the key-hole upon the inside is open that on the opposite side is covered, cutting oif all access to the lock from that side.

Upon the stud C is a spring, D, so adjusted as to keep the escutcheon E closed over the key-hole except when the key is in the lock, from the inside, when it is pushed to one side, as shown in Fig. l, carrying with it the escuteheon F and covering the outside key-hole.

One side of the escutcheon E is slightly raised at e, so as to rest in a groove in the keyshank, against which lit is firmly pressed by the spring D, for the purpose of holding the key in the lock.

j' is a cavity in the esoutcheon F, to receive the end of the key that projects through the lock, while the escuteheon E has a correspon ding hole, e', for the saine purpose when the key is inserted from the outside.

The pins aj are to keep the escutcheon E from moving farther than is necessary.

The operation is as follows, viz: When the key is to be used from the inside, the escuteheon E is pushed to one side, opening the inside and closing the outside key-hole, and the key inserted in the key-hole, when, upon being released, the side of the escutcheon eis pressed into a groove in the shank of the key by the spring D, holding the key B firmly in place.

All access to the lock from the outside is prevented by the escutcheon F, which can only be displaced by breaking off the end of the key, which passes nearly through it. When the key is removed from thelock no obstacle is presented to its insertion from the outside.

The advantages claimed for this improvcment over all others in use are, first, when the door is locked from the inside and the key is in the lock, it becomes impossible for burglars or others to open it by turning thekey with nippers or by using false keys; second, by its use the key is kept in the lock, thereby preventing much annoyance from its being out of place or lost, and in case of fire or other accident enables persons to more readily open the door and escape While excited or in a hurry; third, it is simple in construction, durable, and cheap, and can be readily applied to any doorlock now in use.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my improvement, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters 

